Width washing plant, particularly for delicate fabrics

ABSTRACT

An open width washing plant, particularly for delicate fabrics, comprising a plurality of wash stations, each having a wash tank containing liquid and a rotating drum partially immersed in the wash tank. The fabric rests on a portion of the rotating drum and is scoured by a plurality of spray elements projecting wash liquid against it.

O United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,886,769 Conti 1 June 3, 1975 [54] WIDTH WASHING PLANT, 3,019,630 2/1962 Fleissner et a1 68/DIG. 5 PARTICULARLY FOR DELICATE FABRICS 3,579,679 5/1971 W1111S 68/22 R X 3,608,109 9/1971 Fleissner et al.... 68/DIG. 5 [76] Invento Fulv o Conn, PO. Box 28 Via 3,763,671 10/1973 Schiffer et a1. 68/62 x Carnovali 88, Bergamo, Italy FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] June 1973 300,186 11/1928 United Kingdom 68/9 [21] Appl. No.2 371,312 440,867 1/1936 United Kingdom 68/205 R Primary ExaminerHarvey C. Hornsby [3O] Forelgn Application Pmmty Data Assistant Examiner-Philip R. Coe

Feb. 26, 1973 Italy 20857/73 Attorney Agent, or Firm Albert Josif; Guido Modiano [52] US. Cl. 68/15; 26/51; 26/63', 68/DIG. 5; 68/18 F; 68/22 R; 68/62; 68/184;

205 R [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. B05c 3/138; 8050 5/02 An open width washing'plant, particularly for delicate [58] Field of Sea 18 22 fabrics, comprising a plurality of wash stations, each 8/ 205 63 having a wash tank containing liquid and a rotating drum partially immersed in the wash tank. [56] References cued The fabric rests on a portion of the rotating drum and UNITED STATES PATENTS is scoured by a plurality of spray elements projecting 1,030,656 6/1912 Fretts 26/51 wash liquid against it. 1,347,714 7/1920 Rowley..... 26/63 X 1,726,858 9/1929 Ratignier 68/9 11 Clams, 6 Drawmg Flgures PATENTEDJUH ms 3886769 saw WIDTH WASHING PLANT, PARTICULARLY FOR DELICATE FABRICS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an open width washing plant, particularly for delicate fabrics.

In the treatment of fabrics, whether of natural or synthetic fibres, it is necessary to carry out washing operations after the printing stage in order to remove undesirable substances such as excessive printing dyes and inks.

Known plants for carrying out the said washing operation are often not free from disadvantages, such as the formation of damaging tensions in the fabric which can be particularly harmful in the case of delicate fabrics, or the incomplete elimination of the selvedge curling problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of the present invention is to provide a washing plant which is extremely efficient, but without its powerful action being prejudicial to the possibility of treating a wide range of types of fabric, including particularly delicate fabrics, such as knitted fabrics.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a washing plant of high versatility, being capable of removing a large variety of dyes from the fabrics.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a plant which can also be used for preparing fabrics for printing, particularly knitted fabrics.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a plant which permits the refining and scouring of fabrics of natural, artificial and synthetic fibres.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a plant which enables optical bleaching to be carried out on fabrics particularly of synthetic fibres, such as polyamide, acetate and triacetate fibres.

These and further objects which will be more evident hereinafter are attained by the open width washing plant according to the invention, which comprises a unit for introducing the fabric into the plant, a plurality of wash stations, at least one box for storing the fabric, and a unit for collecting the fabric treated in the plant, in which each of said wash stations comprises a wash tank containing liquid, at least one rotating drum on a portion of which rests the fabric, said drum being partially immersed in said wash tank and having its axis of rotation disposed in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the fabric, a plurality of spray ele ments disposed adjacent to at least one portion of the external surface of said drum and projecting liquid against it, a portion of said spray elements being disposed above and a portion below the surface of the liquid contained in said wash tank, means for spreading the fabric out in a direction substantially transverse to its direction of movement being disposed upstream and downstream of said rotating drum, and means for wringing the fabric disposed downstream of said rotating drum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of a complete washing plant;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of one component of the plant shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal elevational section through a wash station;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section through a wash station;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section on the line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIG. 1, the washing plant comprises a unit 1 for introducing the fabric, a first wash station 2, a storage box 3, a second and third wash station 4 and 5, a control device 6 consisting of a tracer element or one or more photoelectric cells or similar systems, and a unit 7 for collecting and disposing in an ordered manner the fabric which has undergone the washing operations.

With reference to FIG. 2, the storage box consists of an external casing in which are disposed, one following the other, a pair of conveyor belts 8 and 9. The storage box 3 consists of two units substantially of equal dimensions which are separable and placed one following the other. A widening device 10 is disposed before the outlet of the storage box. Ports 11 are provided for introducing wash liquid in both units. Each unit has its own feed pump and an independent hydraulic circuit andmay comprise heating elements for the wash liquid. With reference to FIGS. 3 4, 5 and 6, the actual wash station consists of a tank 12 which contains the wash liquid, which cannot exceed a maximum level because of an overflow channel 13, and cannot go below a minimum level on account of afill-up pipe 17. An internally hollow rotating drum 14 with a cylindrical surface traversed by a plurality of holes 41 is disposed inside the tank 12 in such a manner that it is always partially immersed in the wash liquid. The axis of the rotating drum 14 is disposed in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the fabric 15. Adjacent to the external surface of the rotating drum 14 are disposed a plurality of spray elements 16 which direct their jet against the drum 14 in a substantially radial direction.

The spray elements 16 are distributed over the entire axial extension of the drum, a portion of them being located below and a portion above the surface of the wash water contained in the tank 12. The spray elements 16 are fed by way of the delivery header 42 into which the liquid is thrust'by a pump 18 driven by a motor 25. The pump 18 in its turn draws the wash liquid from the tank 12 by means of the suction pipe 19.

In this manner the wash liquid is circulated in closed cycle. Close to the pump 18 there are self-cleaning filters of practically unlimited life. Two widening rollers 20 and 21 are disposed with their axes parallel to the axis of the rotating drum upstream and downstream of it. Each widening roller is covered by a worm groove divided into two equal zones in which the helix winds in opposite directions.

Downstream of the widening roller 21 there are two wringing cylinders 22 and 23 with their axes of rotation parallel to theaxis of the drum 14. A cylinder 24, disposed at the outlet of the wash station, its axis also being parallel to the axis of the drum 3 14, enables the fabric to be pulled to the outside of the wash station.

The widening rollers and 21 are driven by means of the motor 26, the pulley 27 rigid with the drive shaft, the pulleys 28 and 29 rigid with the shaft of the widening roller 21, the pulley 30 rigid with the shaft of the widening roller 20, and two transmission belts connecting the pulley 27 to the pulley 28, and the pulley 29 to the pulley 30 respectively.

The rotary motion of the drum 14 and wringing cylinder 22 is provided by the motor 31 by means of the pulley 32, rigid with the shaft of the wringing cylinder 22, the pulley 33 rigid with the shaft of the drum l4 and a transmission chain between said pulleys.

The wringing cylinder 23 drives the cylinder 24 by way of the pulleys 34 and 35, connected by a transmission belt.

Close to the bottom of the tank is disposed a coil 36 through which steam flows so as to keep the wash liquid at a predetermined temperature chosen according to the specific requirements of the type of fabric and dye used.

Close to the zone of contact between the wringing cylinders 22 and 23 there is a plurality of spray jets 38 fed by a pipe 37.

An inspection door 39 is located in the upper part of the external casing of the wash station, and in the lower part there is a pneumatic discharge valve 40.

From the description given, the operation of the entire washing plant is evident.

In the wash station the fabric is spread out in a direction transverse to its direction of movement by means of the first widening roller 20, which rotates in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the fabric, then the fabric winds around the rotating drum with its non-printed face against the drum.

The spray elements 16 project the wash liquid violently against the fabric with a speed of impact which is adjustable according to the requirements and type of fabric.

The liquid passes through the fabric and penetrates inside the drum through the holes 41 with which it is provided, helped by the powerful sucking action exercised by the pump 18. The washing action on the fabric is hence double, i.e. it is due both to the action of the spray elements and to the suction inside the drum. The efficiency of the spray elements is increased by their disposition partly above and partly below the surface of the liquid contained in the tank. The liquid completes its closed cycle passing through self-cleaning filters of high efficiency and long life and then returns to the spray elements. After being pulled by the rotating drum 14, the fabric is again spread in a direction transverse to its direction of movement by the second widening roller 21 before passing between the wringing rollers 22 and 23, after which it leaves the wash station dragged by the cylinder 24. The photoelectric cell control device 6 enables the speeds of the motors which cooperate in moving the fabric to be synchronised, so that the tensions in the fabric can be contained within the desired limits. In the storage box 3 located in the plant between two successive wash stations the fabric becomes arranged on the conveyor belts 8 and 9 in short loops, which eliminate the mark-off phenomena possible in fabrics covered by a thick layer of. print. In each unit into which the storage box is divided, it is possible to carry out an enforced wash with a different liquid.

By means of an adjustable drive system the fabric can be kept in the storage box for a period varying from a few seconds to some minutes, according to the type of chemical reaction which is to be carried out, such as optical bleaching etc. The storage box is particularly suitable for shrinking the fabric without giving rise to dangerous tensions. From the description it is evident that because of the high flow rate and violence of the wash liquid the plant according to the present invention provides an extremely efficient action and enables even very tenacious reactive dyes to be effectively and rapidly eliminated.

Moreover any type of printed fabric, including delicate fabric, may be efficiently back washed and the plant may be used for preparing all types of fabric, particularly knitted fabric, for printing.

The invention so conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications all of which fall within the scope of the inventive idea. Moreover all details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice the materials used and the dimensions may be chosen at will according to requirements.

I claim:

1. An open width washing plant for unfolded fabric, particularly for delicate fabrics, comprising a unit for introducing the fabric into the plant, a plurality of wash stations, at least one box for storing the fabric, and a unit for collecting the fabric treated in the plant, in which each of said wash stations comprises a wash tank containing liquid, at least one rotating drum on a portion of which rests the fabric, said drum being partially immersed in said wash tank and having its axis of rotation disposed in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the fabric, a plurality of spray elements disposed adjacent to at least one portion of the external surface of said drum and projecting liquid againt it, a portion of said spray elements being disposed above and a portion below the surface of the liquid contained in said wash tank, means for spreading the fabric out in a direction substantially transverse to its direction of movement being disposed upstream and downstream of said rotating drum, and means for wringing the fabric disposed downstream of said rotating drum.

2. A washing plant as claimed in the claim 1, in which said rotating drum is internally hollow and its surface is traversed by a plurality of holes.

3. A washing plant as claimed in the claim 1, in which said wash station comprises a pump for sucking the wash liquid contained inside said drum and feeding it in closed cycle to said spray elements.

4. A washing plant as claimed in the claim 3, in which said pump comprises at least one self-cleaning filter.

5. A washing plant as claimed in the claim 1, further comprising a plurality of heating elements in at least one among the wash stations and the storage box for keeping the wash liquid at a constant predetermined temperature.

6. A washing plant as claimed in the claim 1, in which said wash station comprises means for keeping the liquid contained in said tank at a constant level.

7. A washing plant as claimed in the claim 1, in which said means for spreading out of the fabric comprise at least one pair of rollers having axes disposed parallel to the axis of said rotating drum and being arranged one upstream and one downstream of said rotating drum, said rollers each having a surface divided into two threaded zones having hlixes developing in opposite 6 fabric.

10. A washing plant as claimed in the claim 1, in which said storage box consists of two separable units placed one following the other, each unit being pro- 5 -vided with its own means for enforced wash.

11. A washing plant as claimed in claim 1, comprising photoelectric cell control means for maintaining the tensions in the fabric within the desired limits. 

1. An open width washing plant for unfolded fabric, particularly for delicate fabrics, comprising a unit for introducing the fabric into the plant, a plurality of wash stations, at least one box for storing the fabric, and a unit for collecting the fabric treated in the plant, in which each of said wash stations comprises a wash tank containing liquid, at least one rotating drum on a portion of which rests the fabric, said drum being partially immersed in said wash tank and having its axis of rotation disposed in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the fabric, a plurality of spray elements disposed adjacent to at least one portion of the external surface of said drum and projecting liquid againt it, a portion of said spray elements being disposed above and a portion below the surface of the liquid contained in said wash tank, means for spreading the fabric out in a direction substantially transverse to its direction of movement being disposed upstream and downstream of said rotating drum, and means for wringing the fabric disposed downstream of said rotating drum.
 1. An open width washing plant for unfolded fabric, particularly for delicate fabrics, comprising a unit for introducing the fabric into the plant, a plurality of wash stations, at least one box for storing the fabric, and a unit for collecting the fabric treated in the plant, in which each of said wash stations comprises a wash tank containing liquid, at least one rotating drum on a portion of which rests the fabric, said drum being partially immersed in said wash tank and having its axis of rotation disposed in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the fabric, a plurality of spray elements disposed adjacent to at least one portion of the external surface of said drum and projecting liquid againt it, a portion of said spray elements being disposed above and a portion below the surface of the liquid contained in said wash tank, means for spreading the fabric out in a direction substantially transverse to its direction of movement being disposed upstream and downstream of said rotating drum, and means for wringing the fabric disposed downstream of said rotating drum.
 2. A washing plant as claimed in the claim 1, in which said rotating drum is internally hollow and its surface is traversed by a plurality of holes.
 3. A washing plant as claimed in the claim 1, in which said wash station comprises a pump for sucking the wash liquid contained inside said drum and feeding it in closed cycle to said spray elements.
 4. A washing plant as claimed in the claim 3, in which said pump comprises at least one self-cleaning filter.
 5. A washing plant as claimed in the claim 1, further comprising a plurality of heating elements in at least one among the wash stations and the storage box for keeping the wash liquid at a constant predetermined temperature.
 6. A washing plant as claimed in the claim 1, in which said wash station comprises means for keeping the liquid contained in said tank at a constant level.
 7. A washing plant as claimed in the claim 1, in which said means for spreading out of the fabric comprise at least one pair of rollers having axes disposed parallel to the axis of said rotating drum and being arranged one upstream and one downstream of said rotating drum, said rollers each having a surface divided into two threaded zones having helixes developing in opposite directions, said rollers rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the fabric.
 8. A washing plant as claimed in the claim 1, in which said means for wringing the fabric consist of a pair of rotating cylinders, the axes of rotation of which are parallel to the axis of said rotating drum.
 9. A washing plant as claimed in the claim 1, in which said wash station comprises a motor for driving said rotating drum and said means for wringing the fabric, and a motor for driving said means for spreading out the fabric.
 10. A washing plant as claimed in the claim 1, in which said storage box consists of two separable units placed one following the other, each unit being provided with its own means for enforced wash. 